1988-10-17
Copperhead Road
Steve Earle
By Maeve C.
Memphis and London both left their mark on Copperhead Road. Steve Earle and Tony Brown produced the album at Ardent Studios and Livingston Studios, and MCA moved Earle from its country division to its rock-leaning Uni imprint for the release.
The title track takes aim at the war on drugs, while The Pogues back Earle on “Johnny Come Lately”. Maria McKee joins him for the closing duet, “Nothing but a Child”. Earle has described the record as a blend of heavy metal and bluegrass, and the grinning skull on its pirate-flag sleeve signalled the change.
Sources
uDiscover Music (Universal owns the MCA/Uni catalogue): "on October 17, 1988, along came Copperhead Road, with its pirate-flag backdrop and threatening, grinning skull"; MCA moved Earle to the UNI rock imprint; The Pogues back "Johnny Come Lately".Corroborates release date October 17, 1988 (infobox); producers Earle and Tony Brown; Ardent Studios (Memphis) and Livingston Studios (London); Maria McKee duet "Nothing but a Child"; title track criticises the war on drugs; Earle's heavy metal and bluegrass description.
Search-result snippet of AllMusic listing: "Release Date October 17, 1988".